Drug Enforcement Administration

13th DEA Take Back Collects Over 9,500 Lbs. Of RX Drugs

Pallets of prescription drugs collected in Arizona as part of DEA’s 13th National Take Back event.

PHOENIX - The DEA’s Phoenix Field Division has finished recording the total amount of drugs collected from those agencies who participated in Saturday’s National Take Back event. Once again, Arizonans turned out in significant numbers and disposed of 9,576.35 pounds, over four tons, of prescription drugs. The total for this weekend’s event is a 1,100 pound increase over the National Take Back event held in October 2016.

“The citizens of Arizona continue to show their concern for curtailing the opioid epidemic in this state by participating in DEA’s Take Back Events and disposing of these potentially addictive substances,” said Doug Coleman, Special Agent in Charge for DEA in Arizona. “DEA will continue to sponsor these Take Back events with our community and law enforcement partners to provide Arizona, and the nation, a means to safely dispose of prescription drugs.”

This latest collection was the result of Arizona’s 45 participating agencies who hosted approximately 68 collection points across the state. Cumulatively in Arizona, over 120,000 pounds, or over 60 tons have been collected since the inception of the program.

The collection receptacles will be transported by DEA agents for destruction at a secure facility in the near future.